TOKYO (Sputnik) — The evacuees are from Kumamoto Prefecture, which was the earthquakes' epicenter and the neighboring Oita Prefecture, according to the Kyodo news agency. The displaced people are now staying outdoors or in sports fields, because staying inside houses is still considered dangerous, the media outlet said.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southern Japan, near the regional capital of Kumamoto on the Kyushu island, on Thursday. Early on Saturday local time, a second earthquake struck the same island, registering magnitude of 7.3. At least 44 people died and over 1,000 others were injured as result of the quakes.
Japan is seismically active region. In March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude offshore earthquake caused a 46-foot tsunami which hit Japan's Fukushima nuclear power, leading to the leakage of radioactive materials and the shutdown of the plant. The accident is considered to be the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
